Born on July 23
Discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp
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Where it comes from
This Story marks the night of 23 July 1995, when two Americans found the same comet within minutes of each other. Alan Hale, at home in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and Thomas Bopp, an amateur at a star party in the Arizona desert, were both looking at the star cluster M70 in Sagittarius when they noticed a faint fuzzy…
How it's celebrated
There is no organised observance. Astronomy clubs and planetariums hold star parties on summer nights, and joining one is a fitting way to mark the day, since Hale-Bopp was found at one. Or simply find a dark spot away from street lights, let your eyes adjust for a quarter of an hour, and look up.
Did you know
Hale emailed his report at 06:50 UT; Bopp had to drive home first, so his message arrived more than two hours later.
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Star sign
Leo · July 23 – August 22 · Fire sign
Warm, generous and made for the spotlight.